Toy jet projectile



Jan. 27, 1959 R. A. BENSON 2,870,570

TOY JET PROJECTILE Filed Aug. 22, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

RALPH A. BENSON Jan. 27, 1959 R. A; BENSON TOY JET PROJECTILE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1955 NN NNN INVENTORP RALPH Av BENSON Jan. 27, 1959 R. AQ QENSON. 2,870,570

TOY JET PROJECTILE Filed Aug. 22, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet :5

INVENTOR. AALPH A. BENSON United States Patent TOY JET PROJECTILE Ralph A'. Benson, Sparta, NQJt, assignor of one-half to Raymond J. Novotny, Rockaway, N. J.

Application August 22,,1955,- Serial No. szasea 17 Claims. (Cl."46-'86) This invention relates to toys, particularly to a toy jet-projectileand has" for its principal object to provide a simple" and inexpensive toy simulating a missile propelled by jet propulsion.

The toy jet projectile described herein, simulates a missile of known type in which the thrust (propelling force) must exceed the'weight in order to achieve flight. In addition, the line along which the thrust vector lies must besubstantiallyin line with the center of gravity of the toy jet projectile in order to obtain stable flight in a generally vertical trajectory without the use of lifting or movable control surfaces. The foregoing dynamic characteristics are inherent in this type of projectile.

There is thus provided by my invention, a novel form of toy jet projectile which will simulate a missile of known type or sufficiently so as to attract and hold the interest of youngsters who will use thedevice, all of the same being simply'arranged and including simple parts which may be readily disassembled and assembled or controlled to effect the best possible use of the device.

In accomplishing these and other objects of. the invention, I have provided for improved flight stability and improved structure. Other and further objects of this invention will be set forth in the accompanying specification and illustrated in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective lower side View of a toy jet projectile constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the nozzle assembly.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the detachable inflating and sealing device.

Figure 4 is a perspective'view of the fin sleeve.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fin sleeve constructed with extended surfaces.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a fin sleeve with integral fin construction.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a fin with a uniform securing surface.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a. fin with a nonuniform securing surface.

Figure 9 is'an elevation view of the toy jet projectile placed on a suitable launcher in a vertical position prior to launching.

Figure 10 is an elevation view of the toy jet projectile placed on an extended flat surface in a vertical position prior to launching,

Figure 11 is an elevation view of the toy jet projectile with both nose-piece and enclosed parachute in place prior-to launching.

Referring in more detail to the drawings:

Figures 1 and 2, in particular, show the toy jet projectile of this iiivention to comprise an inflatable balloon 1 and anozzl'e assembly 2. The gases exhausting from the inflatable balloon 1 escape thru'the exit area 3 of the nozzle assembly 2 and" in so doing produce thrust. The nozzle assembly 2 is secured to the neck 4 ofthe inflatable balloon-1.

In order to provide for a controlled flow'of gas from 2,870,570 Patented Jan. 27, 1 959 the inflatable balloon 1, and provide a firm base for the nozzle assembly 2, a nozzle sleeve 5 is inserted within the neck 4 ofv the inflatable balloon 1. The nozzle sleeve 5 also provides a sealing surface for the detachable inflating and sealing device. The detachable inflating and sealing device, as shown in Figure 3, consists of an elastic check valve and a tubular member 7 which has an open end 8 which also serves as a mouthpiece to admit gas into the inflatable balloon 1. The detachable inflating and sealing device comprises a complete assembly by itself. Removing the detachable inflating and sealing devicereleases the gas within the inflatable balloon which produces suflicient thrust to overcome the weight of the. toy jet projectile and results in substantially vertical flight- A fin sleeve 9, shown as Figure 4 is assembled over the neck 4 of the inflatable balloon 1 when the inflatable balloon 1 is in the deflated state. The fin sleeve 9 has a series of long axial slots 10 at the exit area end 3 to accommodate the fins 11 and a series of short axial slots 12 at the end of the fin sleeve 9 in contact with the inflatable balloon 1 to reduce the concentration of stress and permit greater freedom of adjustment of the expanding surface of the inflatable balloon 1.

The fin 11 is assembled from the exit area end 3 of the nozzle assembly 2 by sliding the securing surface 13 (refer to Figures 2, 7 and 8) of the fin 11 between the inside surface of the fin sleeve 9 and the outside sur face of the neck 4. The length of axial slots. 10v determines the axial positionof the fins 11 relative to the. fin sleeve 9. After the fins 11 are assembled, a securing band 14 is placed over the exit area end 3 ofthe fin sleeve 9 to secure the nozzle assembly 2 to the neck 4 of the. inflatable balloon 1.

Since increased flight stability is obtained when the axis of the inflatable balloon 1 is coincident with. the axis of the nozzle sleeve Sand hence the nozzle assembly 2, the contour of the upper edges 15 of the fins 11- is designed to embrace the expanded surface of the inflatable balloon 1 with its own profile.

Concentricity between the axes of the inflatable balloon 1 and the nozzle sleeve 5 may also be achieved if the contour of the upper edges 15 of the fins 11 are made tangent to the expanded surfaces of the inflatable balloon ll, giving essentially point contact. Therefore, either of the two methods stated above will achieve concentricity, or one canuse designs having: an amount of surface in contact between the upper edges 15 of the fins 11 and the expanded surface of the inflatable balloon 1 that fall between the limits of these two methods.

Concentricity between the inflatable balloon 1 and the nozzle assembly 2 may also be achieved by using a fin sleeve 16 as shown in Figure 5. The extended surfaces 17 of the fin sleeve 16 are capable of uniform contact with the expanded surface of the inflatable balloon 1.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are examples of the possible construction used to attach the fins 11 to the fin sleeve 9. Figure 6 shows the fins 11 constructed as an integral part of the fin sleeve 9 or attached to the fin sleeve 9 with a suitable adhesive. Figure 7 shows the fins 11 constructed with a uniform securing surface 13. Figure 8 shows the fin 11 constructed with a non-uniform securing surface 13. The construction used in Figure 8 lends itself to one-piece fabrication from sheet stock. The securing surfaces 13 shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8 may also be constructed as separate entities and attached to the fins 11 with a suitable adhesive.

Figure 9 is an elevation View of the toy jet projectile placed on a suitable launcher 17 in a vertical position prior to launching. The tubular member 7 extends thru a hole in the launcher 17 which also acts to center the toy jet-projectile on the launcher 17. An access hole 18 pera 9 mits the detachable inflating and sealing device to be withdrawn from the nozzle sleeve 5 of the nozzle assembly 2 thus launching the toy jet projectile.

Figure 10 is anelevation view of the toy jet projectile placed on an extended flat surface 19 with fins constructed to provide clearance between the open end S of the tubular member 7 and the extended flat surface 19 in order to withdraw the detachable inflating and sealing device from the nozzle sleeve 5 of the nozzle assembly 2 thus launching the toy jet projectile Figure ll is an elevation view of the toy jet projectile showing the fin sleeve 16. A nose-piece 21) is placed firmly over the nose of the inflatable balloon 1. Enclosed within the nose-piece 2% is a parachute 21 the end of the shroud lines 22 being fixedly attached to the nose of the inflatable balloon l by direct means or by use of a suitable adhesive tape. When the toy jet projectile is launched the inflatable balloon 1 begins to deflate. As a result, the nose-piece 29 becomes loosely attached to the nose of the inflatable balloon 1 and separates completely from the toy jet projectile at the moment of descent. At this instant the parachute 21 is exposed to the moving air and slows the descent of the toy jet projectile. A similar effect is obtained if the parachute 21 is symmetrically draped over the nose of the inflatable balloon l without being enclosed in a nose-piece 29.

It will be understood that no limitation is made to the specific forms of embodiment shown and that numerous modifications are quite possible within the meaning of the above description and the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A toy jet projectile, comprising, in combination, an inflatable balloon, a nozzle assembly and a combined inflating and sealing device, said balloon having an elongated form and including a neck on one end; said nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle sleeve, a fin sleeve, securing band, and fins; said nozzle sleeve being secured within said neck, said fins being provided with a securing surface which mates with the outside surface of said neck, said fin sleeve being placed over said neck and provided with a number of slots to adapt said securing surface under said slots thus sandwiching said securing surface between the inner surface of said fin sleeve and the outer surface of said neck, said neck being simultaneously sandwiched between the inner surface of said securing surface and the outer surface of said nozzle sleeve, said securing band fastened around said fin sleeve to secure said nozzle assembly to said neck, said combined inflating and sealing device including elastic check valve mounted on one end of a tubular member, said con: bined inflating and sealing device being inserted within said nozzle sleeve to permit sealing the gases within said inflatable balloon during inflation of said balloon and prior to launching said toy jet projectile, said tubular member also providing a mouth-piece for passing air through said elastic check valve for inflating said btlloon, said combined inflating and sealing device being manually withdrawn from said nozzle sleeve to release said gases rearwardly of said inflatable balloon whereby said gases produce sufficient thrust to propel said balloon.

2. A toy jet projectile, comprising, in combination, an inflatable balloon, a nozzle assembly and combination inflating and sealing evice, said balloon having an elongated form and including a neck on one end; said nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle sleeve, and a fin sleeve with attached fins; said nozzle sleeve being secured within said neck, said fin sleeve being secured over said neck sandwiching said neck between the inner surface of said fin sleeve and the outer surface of said nozzle sleeve, said combined inflating and sealing device including a tubular member which is reinovably inserted within said nozzle sleeve to permit sealing the gases within said inflata-ble balloon during inflation of said balloon and prior to launching said toy jet projectile, said tubular member also providing a mouth-piece for passing air through said device for inflating said balloon, said device being manually withdrawable from said nozzle sleeve to release said gases rearwardly of said inflatable balloon whereby said gases produce suficient thrust to propel said balloon.

3. A toy jet projectile in accordance with claim 1, and having the edge of said fin sleeve in contact with the expanding balloon surface being capable of flexure as said balloon surface expands and said balloon is inflat-ed.

4. A toy jet projectile in accordance with claim 1, and having said fin sleeve constructed with extended surfaces, the inner part of said surfaces capable of contact with the expanded surface of said balloon, both surfaces cooperating to provide alignment of said balloon with the center of said nozzle assembly.

5. A toy jet projectile in accordance with claim 1 and having the edges of said fins capable of contact with the expanded surface of said balloon, both surfaces cooperating to provide concentric alignment of said balloon with the center of said nozzle assembly.

6. A toy jet projectile in accordance with claim 2 and having the edge of said fin sleeve in contact with the expanding balloon surface being capable of flexure as said balloon surface expands and said balloon is inflated.

7. A toy jet projectile in accordance with claim 2 and having said fin sleeve constructed with extended surfaces, the inner part of said surfaces capable of contact with the expanded surface of said balloon, both surfaces cooperating to provide concentric alignment of said balloon with said nozzle assembly.

8. A toy jet projectile in accordance with claim 2 and having the edges of said fins capable of contact with the expanded surface of said balloon, both surfaces cooperating to provide concentric alignment of said balloon with said nozzle assembly.

9. A toy jet projectile, comprising, in combination, an inflatable balloon and an. unobstructed rigid nozzle therefor, said unobstructed nozzle being attached to the neck of said balloon, guide fins attached to said toy jet projectile, said guide fins being so shaped at the trailing edge to permit said inflatable balloon to stand in a generally upright position, and a combined inflating and sealing device detachably secured to said nozzle, said combined inflating and sealing device being manually detachable from said nozzle to launch said toy jet projectile, said guide fins extending rearwardly of the balloon nozzle a distance sufficient to provide clearance for withdrawing the inflating and sealing device from the nozzle when the balloon is in an upright position.

H). A toy jet projectile, comprising, in combination, an inflatable balloon and an unobstructed rigid nozzle therefor, said unobstructed nozzle being attached to the neck of said balloon, guide fins attached to said toy jet projectile, said guide fins being so shaped at the trailing edge to permit said inflatable balloon to stand in a generally upright position, and a combined inflating and sealing device detachably secured to said nozzle, said combined inflating and sealing device being manually detachable from said nozzle to launch said toy jet projectile, said toy jet projectile having a thrust to Weight ratio greater than unity and having the thrust vector substantially in line with the center of gravity of said toy jet projectile, said guide fins extending rearwardly of the balloon nozzle a distance sufficient to provide clearance for withdrawing the inflating and sealing device from the nozzle when the balloon is in an upright position.

ll. A toy jet projectile, comprising, in combination, an inflatable balloon and an unobstructed rigid nozzle therefor, said unobstructed nozzle being attached to the neck of said balloon, guide fins attached to said toy jet projectile, said guide fins being so shaped at the trailing edge to permit said inflatable balloon to stand in a generally upright position, the edges of said fins in contact with said inflatable balloon being so shaped to provide concentricity between the axis of said inflatable balloon and said nozzle, and a combined inflating and sealing device detachably secured to said nozzle, said inflating and sealing device being manually detachable from said nozzle to launch said toy jet projectile.

12. A toy jet projectile, comprising, in combination, an inflatable balloon and an unobstructed rigid nozzle therefor, said unobstructed nozzle being attached to the neck of said balloon, guide fins attached to said toy jet projectile, said guide fins being so shaped at the trailing edge to permit said inflatable balloon to stand in a generally upright position, the edges of said fins in contact with said inflatable balloon being so shaped to provide concentricity between the axis of said inflatable balloon and said nozzle, and a combined inflating and sealing device detachably secured to said nozzle, said inflating and sealing device being manually detachable from said nozzle to launch said toy jet projectile, said toy jet projectile having a thrust to weight ratio greater than unity and having the thrust vector substantially in line with the center of gravity of said toy jet projectile.

13. A toy jet projectile, comprising, in combination, an inflatable balloon and a rigid nozzle assembly therefor, said nozzle assembly being fixedly attached to the neck of said balloon, guide fins fixedly attached to and symmetrically arranged about said nozzle assembly in proximity to the trailing edge of said balloon, and a combined inflating and sealing device detachably secured to said nozzle assembly, said device being manually detachable from said nozzle assembly to launch said toy jet projectile.

14. A toy jet projectile, comprising, in combination, an inflatable balloon, and a rigid nozzle assembly therefor, said nozzle assembly being fixedly attached to the neck of said balloon, guide fins fixedly attached to said nozzle assembly, said guide fins being so shaped at the trailing edge to permit said inflatable balloon to stand in a generally upright position, and a combined inflating and sealing device detachably secured to said nozzle assembly, said device being manually detachable from said nozzle assembly to launch said toy jet projectile, said 6 guide fins extending rearwardly of the balloon nozzle a distance sufficient to provide clearance for withdrawing the inflating and sealing device from the nozzle when the balloon is in an upright position.

15. A toy jet projectile, comprising, in combination, an inflatable balloon and a rigid nozzle assembly therefor, said balloon having an elongated form including a neck on one end, said nozzle assembly being fixedly attached to said neck, guide fins fixedly attached to and symmetrically arranged about said nozzle assembly in proximity to the trailing edge of said balloon, and a combined inflating and sealing device detachably secured to said nozzle assembly, said device being manually detachable from said nozzle assembly to launch said toy jet projectile.

16. A toy jet projectile in accordance with claim 15 having a parachute secured to the nose portion of said balloon.

17, A toy jet projectile in accordance with claim 16 having said parachute secured to the nose portion of said balloon, means for enclosing said parachute within a nose-piece during propelled flight, said nose-piece detaching itself from said deflated balloon near the end of flight thus exposing said parachute to the moving air.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 633,082 Davey Sept. 12, 1899 1,718,508 White June 25, 1929- 2,384,193 Platt Sept. 4, 1945 2,436,684 Annis Feb. 24, 1948 2,439,989 Ruthven Apr. 20, 1948 2,449,147 Samuels Sept. 14, 1948 2,732,657 Krautkramer Jan. 31, 1956 2,748,529 Swan June 5, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 272.658 Great Britain June 23, 1927 622,771 Great Britain May 6, 1949 628,041 Great Britain Aug. 22, 1949 680,192 Great Britain Oct. 1, 1952 

